Career Information At a Glance

Echo cardiac sonographers, also called echocardiographers or cardiac sonographers, use ultrasound waves to measure the function of the heart. Learn about career requirements in the table below.

Degree Required

Associate's or bachelor's degree; certificates available for current health technicians

Education Field of Study

Diagnostic medical sonography or cardiovascular technology

Licensure Required

Licensure required in Oregon; certification preferred by employers

Job Growth (2012-2022)

30% for all cardiovascular technologists and technicians*

Average Salary (2013)

$53,990 for all cardiovascular technologists and technicians*

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What Does an Echo Cardiac Sonographer Do?

As a cardiac sonographer, you will operate the machine responsible for producing ultrasound waves used to examine the heart. Throughout this process, the sonographer works with the patient and interprets the reflected Doppler signals and echoes, creating the echocardiogram used by the patient's physician to come up with the appropriate diagnosis and plan for healing.

What Are the Education Requirements?

To work as a cardiac sonographer, you must have at least an associate's degree in echocardiography or cardiovascular technology. You can expect to receive training particular to cardiac sonography in the second year of the program. Bachelor degree programs are also available. Coursework can include instruction in anatomy, human physiology and genetics, as well as echo procedures, ultrasounds physics, congenital abnormalities, echocardiogram waveforms and other topics. You may also have the chance to participate in an internship.

You can become certified as a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer through the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. While not required in all states, gaining certification can provide you a leg up over non-certified professionals also looking for employment.

What Is the Employment Outlook?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of cardiovascular technologists and technicians, including cardiac sonographers, will grow by 30% during the 2012-2022 decade (www.bls.gov). The major reasons for employment growth are centered on the prevalence of heart disease and a growing elderly populace. In addition, noninvasive cardiovascular diagnosing techniques like echocardiography are becoming preferential to using invasive surgery.

As technology advances in cardiovascular health, so too will related jobs, says the BLS. The majority of technicians in the field work in the cardiology departments of hospitals. Other job settings include doctor's offices, clinics and diagnostic laboratories.